Star of Courage

• Awarded on: August 4, 1987
• Invested on: September 25, 1987

Maxwell Machmer, S.C. (posthumous)
Star of Courage

On August 5, 1986, while on a hunting and camping trip at Mary River, Northwest Territories, Maxwell Machmer saved his 4-year-old daughter from a blazing cabin, subsequently dying as a result of his efforts. Mr. Machmer, his family, a young boy and another couple and their baby had travelled by charter plane to the abandoned mining site where they set up camp into two wooden cabins, the young couple in one and Maxwell Machmer and the children in the other. In the middle of the night, Mr. Machmer was awakened by his son who had seen flames and smoke coming from a space heater. He and his son ran outside, followed by the eldest daughter and the other boy. He then realized his youngest daughter was missing. At that moment, there was an explosion inside the cabin and it was engulfed in flames. Undeterred, Mr. Machmer went in and came out with his daughter. Both were badly burned, Mr. Machmer in particular, because of the highly flammable nylon pyjamas he was wearing. They collapsed on the ground and were carried into the other cabin where the woman looked after them while her husband, Daniel Qitsualik, went to get help from a neighbouring camp some 100 kms away. Mr. Machmer succumbed to his injuries the following day but his daughter was eventually rescued and given professional medical care.

Daniel Qitsualik was awarded the Medal of Bravery for his participation in this rescue.